Apparatus for changing the water in boilers



' v 1, 2 Ma ch 29,1927. 5. OTIS 62 ,339

APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE WATER IN BOILERS Filed July 22. 1920 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SPENCER OTIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LOCOMOTIVE TERMINAL IM- PROVEMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

,APPARATUS FOR CHANGING THE VIATER IN BOILERS.

Application filed. July 22,

This invention relates to a self contained apparatus whereby impure water with sediment of a boiler may be removed and simultaneously replaced with fresh water without drawing the fire, and, if desired, by utilization of the inherent pressure of the boiler for blowing off the impure water and forcing in the fresh water.

In my application Serial No. 354,767, filed January 29th, 1920, now Patent'No. 1,480,- 737, I have described and broadly claimed the art of cleansing steam boilers by stirring up the sediment therein, and bringing it into a state'of suspension in the water through means of air currents forcibly discharging into the water of the boiler and adding their volume to that of the contained steam, so that the water may be used as a vehicle for removing the sediment, and may flow out under internal boiler pressure.

In my application Serial No. 391,796, filed June 25, 1920, I have described and claimed a procedure for replacing water in boilers, which consists in agitating the contained water by the use of air, as above described, and blowing off the. impure water while fresh water is being introduced to maintain the level of the water at the blowoff point.

The present invention provides a system of apparatus whereby the method of procedure of my last-named application may be effectively carried out.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in providing upon a locomotive, which is preferably equipped with means for developing and storing air under pressure, as well as means for storing and supplying water for refilling purposes, stirring devices operated by compressed air, askimming device supported near the normal water level in the boiler or immediately. above the same within convenient reach of an abnormal level that may be developed by supplying water to the boiler; and means for supplying such water near the bottom of the boiler as the water is blowing off through the skim mer at the top; the means for supplying air being preferably a part of the permanent equipment of the locomotive, actuated by steam from the boiler; the water forcing means being also operated by steam from the boiler, such, for instance, as an injecting pump or a steam injector; and the water being introduced at a temperature which will not unduly cool the boiler; the whole 1920. Serial No. 398,249.

arrangement being such that the fire can be kept up in the boiler and the locomotive deliver-ed with a complete change of water and ready for return to duty in a minimum period.

The accompanying drawing is a side elevation of a locomotive equipped in accord ance with the present invention, and having a tender for supply of water thereto.

1 represents an air pump, air'from which is stored under pressure in a tank 2, and delivered through pipe 3,wh-ich is controlled by valve 3, to mushroom agitators 4 in the bottom of the boiler, and also through pipe 5 to the agitators 6 in the sides of the boiler,

and through pipe 7 to agitators -8 over the crown sheet.

9 represents a skimming device, supported either at the normal water level of the boiler or at such distance-above the same as will permit the water to be brought into discharging relation thereto by raising the level of the water slightly above normal. This skimmer may be conveniently supported upon the dry pipe 10 through means of hangers 11, and is equipped with discharge pipe 12, controlled by valve 12, through which the impurities floating upon the water may be removed through means of the water serving as a vehicle. Pipe 12 may connect with an ordinary blowoff pipe of a stationary boiler washing system, leading to some means through which to separate steam from the water and conserve'the heatunits thereof as shown in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,480,737, upon the subject matter of which the pres ent invention is based. Water from a suitable container, such, for instance, as the tender 13 is supplied through coupling hose 141 to the feed pipe 15, whence it flows through exhaust steam heater 15" to the injecting pump 16 which delivers it through a check valve connection 17 into the boiler. Pump 16 is controlled by engineers injector valve 18 connected with said pump through pipe 19. i v

With apparatus, installed as above described, it will not be necessary to return a locomotive to the round house or within reach of a stationary boiler washing system every time it is desired to clean the boiler. On the contrary, it, will merely be necessary to open valve 3 to discharge air into the boiler and develop the necessary agitation to bring the deposits and sediment inte sus pension and then, either with the valve 3 remaining open or closed as may be desired, to open the valve 18 to start the introduction of resh water, and open the valve 12*, as soon as the water level has arisen to the skimmer 9, to such a degree as will permit the water to flow off through the skimmer only so rapidly as it can be supplied by the lIlJGCtOl. The fire will be maintained during this operation; the steam will be generated, so as to keep up the heat of the boiler; and the operation will continue until clear water is discharged from the end of the pipe 12, when the locomotive boiler will have been cleaned and will stand with a pressure which permits it to be returned to duty. The whole process can be accomplished in an hour or less, and during a period when the locomotive is waiting between trips. In operation, according to the described method, agitating air added to the steam space of the boiler, especially after its expansion, resulting from taking up heat from the water through which it passes, becomes an additional source of pressure and largely compensates for any drop in pressure resulting from injection of fresh water below the boiler temperature. Moreover there is an especially advantageous cooperation between a boiler skimmer and a pneumatic agitating apparatus, since air used as theagitating medium, being non-absorb- V able in the water and being caused by its levity to rise quickly through the water when released therein, carries sediment with it to the skimming level and greatly reduces the time requiredto treat the boiler forv purification of its water. Other advantages of the new system herein described are that the water is so agitated by the ebullition of the air that boiler temperatures are equalized, the incoming replenishing water is quickly heated, and being so heated, will give up some of its impurities tothe rising currents of air.

At periodic intervals the locomotive can be returned to the round house for blowing off in the usual way through the bottom blowoff pipe 19, followed by the usual scrubbing out and final refilling through one or both of the filling valves 20,

I claim:v

1. In combination with a boiler, means for releasing air below the water level therein and thereby bringing precipitate of the boiler into suspension and causing it to rise to an upper stratum of the water; and a skimmer adapted to permit the water of such boiler with its suspended sediment to blow off from near the surface of the water.

2. In combination with a boiler, means for releasing air below the water level there- 1n and thereby bringing precipitate of the boiler into suspension and causing it to rise to an upper stratum of the water; a skimmer adapted to permit the water ofsuch boiler with its suspended sediment to blow ofi from near the surface of the water, and means for introducing fresh water-into the boiler to bring the water level thereof within reach of the skimmer. p

3. In combination with a boiler, means for releasing air below the water level there in and thereby bringing precipitate of the boiler into suspension and causing it to rise to an upper stratum of the water; and a skimmer adapted to permit the water of such boiler with its suspended sediment to blow off from near the surface of the water;

said means comprising widely distributing nozzles adapted to deliver the air under pressure near the interior surfaces of the boiler upon which sediment settles.

4. In combination with a boiler, means for releasing air below the water level therein and thereby bringing precipitate of the boiler into suspension and causing it to rise to an upper stratum of the water a skimmer adapted to permit the water of such boiler with its suspended sediment to blow off from near the surface of the water, and means operated by pressure medium from the treated boiler for developing air under pressure and supplying it for agitating the water in the boiler.

5. The improvement in the art of changing the water in steam boilers which consists in discharging into the boiler below the water level thereof an aeroform medium non-absorbing in water, thereby stirring up precipitate in the boiler and bringing it into suspension in the water and simultaneously introducingto the boiler replenishing water which is by the stirring efiectintermingled with the hot water of the boiler boiler water with sediment in suspension therein being withdrawn from the boiler by being skimmed from an upper stratum of the boiler water.

Signed at Ghicago, Illinois, this 19th day of July, 1920. p a SPENCER OTIS; 

